Ep104: Golf doesn't always love you back, with Mark Panopoulos

Part two of what has become a three-part series commemorating perhaps the most important moment for the game of golf in Australia. This edition of the podcast is another focussed on the life and times of Dr Alister MacKenzie. We explore his 1926 voyage on the RMS Otranto from the UK to Australia, his communication with Australian golf clubs, and the nitty grity of his design work on our courses. Published on the morning of October 19 2026 – 100 years to the day since MacKenzie docked in Fremantle and set foot on Australia to commence this historic visit. We conclude the episode with a focus on his work at NSWGC, and his departure for New Zealand. Our final instalment in this trilogy will explore the final years of Alister’s life and work. We hope you enjoy this episode as much as we enjoyed the research & presentation.

A special one for our AGP audience this time around. Commemorating perhaps the most important moment for the game of golf in Australia. This edition of the podcast is the first of three dedicated to the life and times of Dr. Alister MacKenzie. Published to coincide with the centenary of his Australian visit in the last months of 1926, we take a deep dive into Alister’s life – starting with schooling years, the Boer War, progressing to his work with camouflage during World War I, and his transition from medicine to golf. His marriage, work at Alwoodley, Moortown and elsewhere, association with Colt and his map of The Old Course – it is all covered. We conclude the episode with a look at Melbourne, Australia and the world in 1926, setting the stage for the time in which MacKenzie’s Australian voyage is confirmed. We explore a few rabbit holes and take the odd detour along the way for good measure. We hope you enjoy this episode as much as we enjoyed the research and presentation.

A few little snippets to discuss before we focus on the headline act for this episode. Scott and Matt discuss the imminent opening of some new holes at Newcastle Golf Club, with the work by Scott Champion and Bob Harrison looking really good. Lovedale Farm comes in for some discussion – specifically the ongoing issue of who is actually at the helm from a design perspective. Read the Planet Golf article addressing this. And most importantly – we discuss Barwon Heads, in all its old school glory. Situated in a gorgeous seaside village, the course is close to the beach and enjoys wonderful terrain. An enjoyable mix of short and long holes, the course is so reminiscent of so much high calibre UK golf. The closest thing to an East Coast English or Scottish links in the southern hemisphere. As promised in the episode – the link to enquire about stay and play packages in the glorious and recently refurbished Barwon Heads clubhouse. Australian Golf Passport is supported by: ⁠Currents Golf⁠ golf booking software ⁠Angus and Grace Go Golfing⁠ apparel ⁠Seed Golf⁠ balls Images related to this episode can be found on our ⁠Instagram⁠. Podcast intro music - Nbhd Nick / Stop Playing With Me-Instrumental / courtesy of ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠www.epidemicsound.com

A few topics covered on this episode – ranging from Royal Park Golf Course, social media activity of golf clubs, and hickory golf. Firstly we touch on the community consultation process and impending change in the Royal Park precinct of Melbourne, which may have ramifications for the golf course. We touch on a couple of examples of social media activity from local golf clubs and discuss how badly it is so often done, and how social media activity by golf clubs could be done better. We round out the episode with a discussion of hickory golf. The clubs, the history, the makers, and the mode of play. Courses suited to hickory and more. This stems from Matt’s recent participation in the 2026 Victorian Hickory Shaft Championships, staged at Barwon Heads, and is the springboard into our next episode in which we focus exclusively on Barwon Heads Golf Club.

A long-awaited chat with an under the radar figure in golfarchitecture in Australia. And a sensational, humble guy on top of that! Mic spends an hour with us, chatting about his start in the design and construction business, and the many projects he’s been a part of over the last two decades. From his beginnings when submitting competition entries to Tom Doak and Tony Cashmore, to working on master plans, course routings and more. We talk about Mic’s time on the ground at Tara Iti, National (Gunnamatta), Mallacoota, Flinders, 7 Mile Beach and others. He shares his love for understated countrygolf courses, particularly those down in the south east of Victoria. He sheds a little light on some hidden gems such as Loch Sport and Tambo Valley too! Construction, lessons learned from working with some wonderful colleagues and great projects and more. Thanks so much to Mic for chatting with us – a really fun and illuminating discussion.